Air Travel and Liquids

[DragonflyC]

The Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation "Tips for Airline Travelers with Sjogren's Syndrome" states, "If you have Sjogren's syndrome, you may now bring an unlimited number of prescription and medically necessary OTC items in your carry-on bag. . . allowable products include eye drops, saline solutions, and ointments, gets, or balms used to lubricate the eyes, mouth nose, or lips. You must let a Security Officer know about your condition and declare these items for X-ray or visual inspection. Quantities may exceed three ounces and are not required to be in the zip-top bag."

I'm wondering if anyone has tested out these guidelines. If you have, did you have any trouble at the airport, or did they seem to understand your situation?

I'm planning a trip, and I want to make things as simple as possible. Right now, I'm assuming that means buying my eye drops when I get to my destination, but I thought I'd ask in case it's easier than I think to travel with everything I'll need while I'm away.

Thanks!

[eyeamdry]

Dragonfly, I think that everything under 3 oz in liquid is pretty workable.  Of course smaller shampoo, hairspray and the like.  Those in a one quart ziplock bag should be no trouble.  You can buy a bottle of water at the airport once you are past a certain point.  Also, if you need more, the attendants should be able to supply you with water during the flight.  I have flown several times since 9/ll and I didn't have any problems. 

Actually, most of these rules/laws make us be more cautious and not throw in every giant size jar or bottle of spray,l gel or other liquids we have.  I like to take my kitchen sick too, but it works better when I don't. 

Lucy

[Skylar]

I fly often and I'm a minimal packer - if it doesn't fit into one suitcase that I can take on board - then I don't take it. The less you take, the lighter and easier it is to move that suitcase around - and at security you will need to lift and maneuver it around for inspection. Unfortunately in my answer to you, LOL I'm not minimal - rather I'm very wordy in the hopes to fully explain what I do to make my trip through security quick, easy and to keep my medications etc. safe.

What I do is not how you should do it officially - this is what works for me. I know about the new rulings but I don't want to bother with them because they will take extra time examining all your medications - I want to get through as simply and as quickly as possible. I'm glad there is this option because there may come a time when I might need to make use of this. Keep in mind that the officers have the right to open and inspect your medicine. My daughter and her boyfriend were pulled aside for a random, in depth inspection of their suitcases recently and while there they witnessed an elderly couple being inspected - including removing pills from their containers and being placed out on a counter and handled. BTW, my daughter and her boyfriend are lawyers - and not given to exaggeration.  Officially you should keep all your medication in their own containers with the prescription label on the outside - well I get my meds in 3 month supplies and some of those bottles are chunky. And all my ointments are in boxes etc. - carrying all that would take up half my suitcase.

routine pills
I use a small ziplock baggie for all my routine pills - if I'm going to be away "n" days then I take "n+2 days" pills in case there are delays and I don't get home on time. For example, I take two Plaquenil a day so if I'm going away for 3 days, I'll pack 10 pills. I take 1 vitamin B12 pills a day so I would pack 5 into that same baggie. My Restasis is also in this bag. I can easily identify each of my pills so I'm not worried about confusion or taking the wrong medication. I keep this bag with me at all times in my purse so I always have them available to take when I have a glass of water whether in the hotel room or at a restaurant.

Pills with unusual dosing or that look like other pills etc
During one trip I was on I was on a pulse dose of Prednisone - I kept those pills separate because dosing was complicated - I put in a separate ziplock baggie and peeled off the prescription label and stuck it on the bag. I kept these in my purse as well. I prefer to keep all my pills in the same baggie because it's simpler to pull one bag out and sort out what pills I need to take, but I will not compromise my safety by keeping pills together that I might mix up and over or under dose.

1 quart-sized plastic bag - liquids
You are allowed 1 quart-sized plastic bag filled with containers with liquids. Each container of liquid must hold 3.4 ounce (100ml) less. Because of allergies/sensitive skin I pack body shampoo, face wash and sunscreen in this bag along with some prescription ointments.  I bought little travel bottles. For prescription ointments and my toothpaste, I usually keep a partly finished tube available so I have enough ointment but not a full tube which may be over the limit of volume or might take up too much room in this valuable real estate of 1 quart. I also carry a small bottle of eye lubrication and my dentist has given me a lot of trial sized biotene and other mouth wash. When I had a prescription mouthwash and I thought I would need more than 3 oz, I took two 3 oz bottles. I take the minimum that I need and try to shrink everything down small enough so it all fits in this one bag. I keep this bag in the outside pocket of my wheel on the airplane suitcase so it's easy to pull out for inspection at the airport. I also keep it there because on very small jets, they don't allow you to take these suitcases onto the plane so I am able at short notice to grab that bag out of my suitcase when they take it to load under the plane. While I normally don't carry this bag in my purse, I always make certain it's with me inside the airplane - either in my suitcase or in my laptop bag - I refuse to let this be placed in the hold.

[Skylar]

Part 2 - couldn't fit all my response into one reply - this board limits the size of a response.

considerations
Where are you going plays a role - will you have reasonable access to a decent pharmacy? If so, then leave behind everything except what is critical. for example - I don't carry cortisone ointment if I know that I can get to a pharmacy and buy it if needed. However, if I'm going to an isolated resort where I might need it, then I will pack it. Are there parts of your routine that you can stop while on vacation without it causing any health issues? For example, I don't carry my foot cream on vacation.

BTW, you can pack liquids etc. in checked luggage - this luggage will go in the hold which is not pressurized or temperature regulated - so don't put anything that can't be frozen and pack it in multiple plastic bags in case anything spills/breaks - you don't want to open your suitcase and find a mess.

Here is the official info from TSA:
place the http://www.    before this...         tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/specialneeds/before_you_go.shtm

Hope you have a wonderful, stress free trip.

[DragonflyC]

Thanks!

I don't check bags when I travel, so like you, I only carry what fits in my quart bag.

As I suspected, it sounds like I'm best off just buying what I need when I get there. I'll be away for just over a week, so between the fish oil supplements, eye drops, Restasis, etc. (water isn't really a concern for me--my dry mouth is well controlled by Evoxac, and there are always ways to get some if necessary), my quart bag would be totally full even before adding shampoo, conditioner, foundation, and such. I'll just buy extra OTC things when I get there instead since it doesn't sound like the TSA has much experience with SJS patients and our special regulations.

I really appreciate the SSF negotiating on our behalf, but I suspect it's more trouble than I want to deal with to bring my extra products. I'll stick with carrying prescription meds and stocking up on everything else upon arrival.

[Gayle]

Hi
I traveled a lot as well. I also travel with one carry on bag.

I had something (funny now, not then) happen the last time I flew. I use electronic cigarettes so I carry extra cartridges. I had these in my bag with the charging wires for the batteries and also a LARGE tub of cream as the sahara desert has taken up residence on my skin. All in this one bag.

I thought nothing of it until the xray machine should what looked like a bomb in my bag. I tried to explain what it was but  they were ignoring me (or seemed to, I am sure SOMEONE was watching me) Finally someone listened and very carefully opened up my bag and started gingerly poking around. When they came up with the giant tub of cream, the TSA turned to me and asked why I had it. I told them Sjogrens and they looked completely relieved, moved the wires and cartridges around, asked me to pack one of those items in my purse and sent me on my way.

I am glad they are careful and I certainly will be more careful in the future. However I still have no problems taking my stuff, I don't bother with moving it to bags or anything. Keeping it all in original container is law after all and I don't want to cause myself any more problems.  They pretty much know me and almost smile when I come thru... they always send me thru a new persons lane and use it as a teaching experience. Unfortunately now I am not traveling much and can't enjoy the antics.

[Skylar]

DragonflyC, I just wanted to update you - I flew today and decided to take some extra medicine with me that put me over the limit of the quart bag. The extra stuff was prescription ointment in the original boxes with the prescription on the outside. I was prepared to explain everything and LOL they didn't care, they didn't even look and it didn't hold me up during inspection.

[DragonflyC]

Skylar,

That's great to hear! Thank you!

--C.